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United Airlines is moving toward a new Internet provider for its in-flight Wi-Fi on long-haul journeys with an interesting choice for the first platform to debut its new service on. Boeing 777-200ERs inherited from Continental Airlines after the 2010 merger are set to launch new Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi in time for summer.
This news comes on the heels of recent complaints from flyers of a total absence of internet service on long-haul flights. The small fleet of 777s selected by UA are noteworthy as they differ from the rest of the airlines’ inventory as they are equipped with the most powerful power plant option available for the airframe, the General Electric GE90.
United Gets Flyers Back Online
The recent blackout of Wi-Fi service on long itineraries has led to speculation that the pre-existing Internet provided by Panasonic was likely shut off as UA canceled its contract in advance of the incoming Starlink hardware. United has already completed the installation of Starlink on a number of smaller jets, its entire fleet of just under 250 Embraer E175 Regional planes as the Boeing 737 fleet is still undergoing retrofits.
Currently, the airline is aiming to install Starlink on its entire widebody fleet by the end of next year. The narrowbody fleet is keeping up with projections that half of the single-aisle jets will be outfitted with the new Wi-Fi service this year. United has been eagerly promoting this fleetwide upgrade even conducting a two-day ‘Elevated’ event at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) earlier this year, in late March.
Via X, JonNYC posted the latest update from United on the widebody rollout of Starlink-powered Wi-Fi:
“N37018 currently in [Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport (GIG)] is the first 777 to receive Starlink. Should do test flights near the end of this month and receive STC approval shortly after. Currently only applicable to the 22 GE 777-224’s.”
High Powered Widebodies: The GE90 777s
The aircraft inherited from Continental are newer than the rest of the 777 fleet operated by United today. Since these jets rolled off the factory line later, they not only received the larger and more powerful GE90 turbofans but have more modern electrical systems to support all the equipment powered by the enormous engines. Although there is no clear indication that a difference in electrical power supply is the reason for these jets being selected, it is possible that there could be a connection.
A more likely reason is that this group of aircraft models is nearing deep depot work the soonest. These airframes are roughly 20 to 27 years old and approaching their third or fourth D-Check, the most extensive heavy maintenance cycle in aviation. Since there is a sizable number of planes with the same configuration, performing this installation as a first batch is efficient. It serves as a good trial run to gather data for the larger upgrade program that will follow.
Delivered between 1998 and 2007, their first major cycles occurred in the mid-2000s. The upcoming series of checks should inspect for deep fuselage corrosion, aluminum fatigue, and wiring degradation. Performing the retrofit of Starlink at the same time is advantageous for UA because this is an intensive maintenance cycle that requires disassembly and extensive rework of internal systems.
United Airlines To Complete Starlink WiFi Installations Across Entire Fleet By 2027
About a quarter of the carrier’s daily departures already feature the fast and free internet service.
Investing In The Long-Haul: UA’s Youngest Triple Sevens
The other 777 models in the UA fleet are both older than the -224s and powered by Pratt & Whitney 4000 turbofan engines which have had more issues in the past. These jets experienced a series of uncontained engine failures in the past that led the fleet to be grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration. The GE90 was the most powerful turbofan in the world until the new GE9X recently overtook, but more importantly, it is one of the most reliable jet engines ever made.
The combination of younger airframe age and superior powerplants means that the 777-224s are a longer-term investment for UA because their retirement is still over the horizon. Adding to that, many UA 777s are set up for higher density domestic flying and lack the spacious floorplan needed for comfort-focused long-haul cabin features. The -224s are extended range, or ER, variants with Polaris business class suites which makes them valuable assets until at least 2030.
